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Another state of emergency would impact Tokyo Olympics

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Should Japan again issue a state of emergency as requested by Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures to combat increased coronavirus infections, it is bound to have a serious impact on this summer's Tokyo Olympics.

And there it is... the truth as to why the Japanese government is doing such a craptastic job of dealing with this virus. All they seem to care about is their Tokyo Olympics and not much more than that.

45 ( +46 / -1 )

This article has put me over my threshold of patience about the O.

There are risks in every investment, this one didn't pay off.

Stick a pin in this crap, and let's move on.

32 ( +34 / -2 )

Once again, wash-rinse-repeat, from last year. People's lives and well being take the back seat to the Olympics.

25 ( +27 / -2 )

No way the Olympics are going to happen. If anything it will be a huge Japanese sports day spread over a week.

27 ( +29 / -2 )

@Ashley

When will these elderly men put the safety of people first and foremost and say good-bye to the Olympics? 

I generally agree with you but I would like to add that one of the biggest culprits of not putting people's safety first in this fiasco is a woman.

The State of Emergency should certainly be declared and any and all remaining money which would be used for the Olympics should be used to compensate businesses so they will be encouraged to close during the SOE.

It worked last time and would work again in at least decelerating the spread. As stated in another post I believe we are at or past the point where the economic fallout of allowing the spread to accelerate is a higher risk than the loss of the Olympics.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

Bloody Olympics. Japan was getting 20 million tourists a year prior to the pandemic and the hotels and tourist spots were full. The infrastructure was never gonna handle the target of 40 million they had set.

26 ( +28 / -2 )

The Olympics is not happening in any meaningful way. Nobody wants to watch empty stadiums, with only a few participants. Just cancel the damn thing.

20 ( +22 / -2 )

There will be more Talento then athletes.

18 ( +18 / -0 )

It doesn’t have any impact anymore because nothing is taken place , very clearly and easy to calculate already right after the beginning of the pandemic one year ago.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

I guess sumo is over for the year as well. They are getting the virus ,left and right.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

Surely we all realise that this is not going ahead in 2021?

16 ( +17 / -1 )

Surely we all realise that this is not going ahead in 2021?

Way things are going globally it’ll be lucky if 2024 goes ahead either.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Just cancel it and be done with it. Sorry Japan, but as fate would have it, you ain't gonna get your Olympics. Move on and focus on Riewa-ing some more.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

As with last year, it is not just a question of Japan being ready for the Olympics. The Olympics were going to be held at the hottest time of year in 2020 to satisfy the desires of US TV. Will the US be ready, will the UK be ready, will the world be ready for the Olympics? No, no no. As last year the decision will not be taken by Japan. It will be taken by other countries pulling out. Japan will agree only when the last shred of possibility has disappeared. Until then Japan will dream on.

16 ( +18 / -2 )

I don't know what is worse, pretending athletes' training is reason enough to avoid emergency measures that would question the Games going ahead or actually believing that athletes' training is so precious as to trump public health. How many deaths is a chance at a gold medal worth?

My eldest did a minor sport to a very high level, top 5 in the country for her school year, and from what I've seen, there will be many cases where the champion at 18 will be the child who's somehow managed to stay injury-free, has not completely burnt out in the face of every other hobby out there, and whose parents haven't run out of money. The last one standing will have benefitted from things that are not pure merit or ability. The most important thing about sport from the public perspective is to get as many people involved as possible, not VIP treatment for an elite few.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

The Japanese gov need to keep the peoples spirit up, so insisting the games will happen gives the local populace strength to overcome this pandemic.

If an SOE, will help, then do it now, get the vaccines ready ASAP and all will be good.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

Tokyo 2020 seems to have been jinxed from the very start. But, the resiliant Japanese have pulled through and kept the dream on track, even through postponement.

However, I think it is now time to face reality. It is just not feasible, or practical that they go ahead. In fact it just isn't really possible in just over 200 days.

As some commenters have already asked, does anybody really care about these games right now.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

it is the Japanese inability to adjust to changed situations but instead just blindly pursuing what was planned what keeps them talking about useless Olympics.

Useless because the, already 3x times over estimated economic benefits , can not happen at any level. There will be, at this stage, no foreign visitors. They have other priorities. Sponsors will not engage in hospitality either. The media would come but in much less numbers.

The statesmanship position would be for Koike or Suga to cancel, nevermind the inevitable damage payments to the IOC but both are to selfish for that. Next would be to force IOC to cancel but again self interest stops that.

What will now stop it is the ever more overwhelming disgust of the public with the unwarranted focus and money wasting on the Games.

And the Games are already, practically impossible as , once again, athletes can not qualify or properly prepare. Test events get cancelled all around.

The equestrian horses need to come in now but them and their grooms and handlers can’t come in.

Foreign officials can not sufficiently coordinate with the Japanese sports federations , necessary because the actual organization work at Olympics is done by individual Japanese federations.

So, for those now against the Games, no worries, they are already close to practically impossible

22 ( +22 / -0 )

Dealing with Covid is more important than the Olympics. If you believe differently you have no humanity.

16 ( +17 / -1 )

Would the people who have way too much money part with some of it to help their fellow citizens, thought not!

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

Its whack a mole time!

I dont think Japan has the capability to test people very efficiently, so I think another lockdown is needed to save lives.

However businesses will need to be compensated again, and thats probably the real reason too ALONG with the Olympics.

Giving every small business 1,000,0000 is extremely expensive.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Oh great, looks like we’ll get to spend the first months of 2021 watching the government trying to wish the virus away instead of doing anything about it because actually doing something would endanger the Olympics.

Just like we did in 2020.

15 ( +16 / -1 )

When it goes ahead, the Olympics will be a symbol of hope for a whole planet.

Restrict it to the vaccinated, and celebrate our emerging from the hell of 2020.

-18 ( +1 / -19 )

Blaming Japans politicians is not 100% fair too though.

The IOC and ALL the Olympic Comittee Internationally have never cast one doubt on it. Its definitely about holding out till a certain time for cash purposes.

Those aligned politically with the IOC’s stance have clashed locally with those who wanted Japan to be more proactive about the virus.

But all along for sure money and power were placed over human lives.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

enthusiasm for the games is not building.

That, my friends, is what we call an understatement.

Gary

14 ( +16 / -2 )

Suga San’s plans for 2021 before he leaves his office...

(1st) The Olympics

(2nd) The Economy and Business

(3rd) Just maybe I mean maybe it might be the people of Japan if they matter at all to him....

10 ( +12 / -2 )

It is a matter of time cancellation of the Olympics is announced.

16 ( +17 / -1 )

The Japanese gov need to keep the peoples spirit up, so insisting the games will happen gives the local populace strength to overcome this pandemic

I dont think the japanese public wants the Olympics.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Well, they bought the olympics....and they are still paying.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Should Japan again issue a state of emergency as requested by Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures to combat increased coronavirus infections, it is bound to have a serious impact on this summer's Tokyo Olympics.

No!!! That's not possible!!! How such a thing could happen??? You must be joking! All those investors are going to loose their money!!! Should have canceled it a long time ago, before asking investors to pay more!!! How much longer do we have to hear about these stupid attempts to stage the Olympics?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Well, look on the bright side. We’ll be left with all these world class athletics facilities even if we don’t get the games.

Of course, we also have a population that is getting too old to use them. But Japan will be able to brag about having the world’s most expensive croquet ground for seniors and maybe try to use its influence at UNESCO to have that recognized as some new form of important cultural property.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

In a multi-party democracy with competitive elections and a free press, the overwhelming public opposition to the Olympics would matter. Japan is none of those things, however.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

If the Olympics are really held, and massive infections occur it might finally make the populace stand up and vote out the old school jiji club and bring in fresh blood. But please please please, no family dynasty stuff like Little Koizumi!

5 ( +8 / -3 )

When it goes ahead, the Olympics will be a symbol of hope for a whole planet.

The Olympic Games have nowhere near the prestige and respect they had 2-3 decades ago.

They used to be held in awe and excitement.

Theyre just another temporary distraction these days.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

its hardly only japan's fault...look at the rest of the world, the virus is rampaging worse than ever before...no country can really send a team to compete!! as mentioned above, it might as well just be an undokai....bring your bentos and onigiris, get smashed on ozeki one-cups

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

The Olympic Games have nowhere near the prestige and respect they had 2-3 decades ago.

That is very true.

In many ways, I think that Tokyo was never a good choice of venue. Corporate nationalism seemed to be Japans purpose, sport seemed secondary.

Talking to mamy Japanese people over the last 7 years, regarding the games, it has just been Japan, Japan, Japan, and not sport, achievement, people coming together.

Perhaps a blessing if canceled, at the moment Japan has more pressing reforms to make, as well as dealing witj Convid-19.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

The billions spent on getting ready for an Olympics that was largely debt financed and whose success was supposedly contingent on revenue generated by said event, will have fulfilled its purpose whether or not it ever takes place. Failure is simply not an option when you have the MoF’s smoke and mirrors facilitated dedication to banishing even the very concept. The economic fillip of expenditure on facility construction subsumes all else such that the Japanese can legitimately claim to have perfected perpetual motion and achieved the fiscal equivalent of alchemy.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

its hardly only japan's fault...look at the rest of the world, the virus is rampaging worse than ever before...no country can really send a team to compete!! as mentioned above, it might as well just be an undokai....bring your bentos and onigiris, get smashed on ozeki one-cups

Again, this is true. Convid-19 is not Japans fault.

...and yes, it may as well just be a binge for local nationalists waving Japanese Naval Ensigns who were hijacking this sporting event before Convid-19 came along.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I believe the Tokyo Olympics will be cancelled by Tokyo when Dentsu decides they’ve made enough money. ie never. However, when other countries start pulling out, the JOC will ‘regrettably’ be forced to cancel them.

Or hold a pared down Olympics with just Japan, and a few other ‘trainee’ favored nations.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

@cricky,

You win my comment of the day award.

'There will be more Talento then athletes.'

Awesome job.

I love all of your messages on here,by the way.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Tokyo 2022 !

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

I said this yesterday, and before... the reason they are letting people die is because taking the proper precautions would hurt the Olympics, and THAT is what’s important to the government. They will wait u till either the medical system has already collapsed, or doctors walk out.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Nurses are already starting to quit.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Another state of emergency would impact my bank balance

0 ( +1 / -1 )

They are not going to declare a state of emergency. Dentsu's profit is priority for the Japanese government.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

smithinjapan not just the Olympics..

There is money to made in Go To Travel etc but yeah Olympics is the main reason.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Stupid is, as stupid does.

They could've easily made the right decision to postpne it to 2024. Now look where they are.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

This should have been canceled last year. Time for Japan to care about human rights not company profits

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Another state of emergency would impact Tokyo Olympics

Shall I play the worlds smallest violin?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

@speed

i have suggested that before - put every Olympics back 4 years.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It is evident that the Covid-19 has struck hardest than when when it started or when the first lock-down was effected.

The earlier the Lock-Down is put into effect the better, otherwise, Tokyo/Japan will not only loose the Olympics but many precious lives.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Japan spent so much money in making Tokyo train station look pretty and even Shinbashi and Shibuya jgovt gotta be miserable that the Olympic not happening. Oh well life goes on and the Olympic is non essential to life you can survive without . Time to calm

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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